Method of applying a flexible covering material to a rigid backing



April 23, 1963 J. 5. KAMBORIAN METHOD OF APPLYING A FLEXIBLE COVERING MATERIAL TO A RIGID BACKING Filed May 25, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jim ator (726 06 (film/2'0; & *W'

April 23, 1963 J. s. KAMBORIAN 3,086,209

METHOD OF APPLYING A FLEXIBLE COVERING MATERIAL TO A RIGID BACKING 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1960.

Aprll 23, 1963 J. 5. KAMBORIAN 3,086,209

METHOD OF APPLYING A FLEXIBLE COVERING MATERIAL TO A RIGID BACKING Filed May 25. 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No. 697,220 filed November 18, 1957, now Patent No. 2,947,001 dated August 2, 1960. The invention relates to :a method of applying a flexible covering material to a relatively rigid form such as an automobile door panel and securing the covering material to the 7 back side of the form.

In applicants prior Patents 2,576,121 and 2,667,908 there are disclosed covered panels for use as automobile doors or as parts of furniture. It is the object of this invention to provide an improved method for making covered panels such as are disclosed in the aforementioned patents, which panels will be relatively free of wrinkles or irregularities. This is obtained by placing the panel and covering material upon a support with a margin of the covering material extending outwardly of the panel, applying a pulling force to the margin to feed the panel and form forwardly on the table and pull the margin heightwise of the panel, applying a cross feed to the undersurface of the covering material to direct the covering material towards the edge of the panel, and bending the pulled up margin of the covering material over the top of the panel, and applying an inwiping force to the covering material to force the covering material down on top of the panel. This combination of forces results in the covering material being taut on the finished panel with substantially all wrinkles removed and provides for a neat appearing end product.

Attaching means are provided to secure the pulled up covering material to the panel. The attaching means may take the form of staples driven into the covering material and panel or the form of an adhesive applied between the covering material margin and panel and forming a bond between these two members as a result of the inwiping of the covering material.

Reference is now made to the following more detailed description and to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a machine used for practicin the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the upper part of the machine to a larger scale with certain parts broken away and omitted as seen from the right hand forward corner of the machine;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the work table showing a turntable support for the panel feed roll;

FIG. 4 is a section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a modification wherein adhesive is applied to the covering material and panel to bond the covering material to the panel;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the work table used in the machine illustrated in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a section taken along the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the device illustrated in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing the relationship of the edge guide, pulling over rolls, feed roll, fixed folder and rotary wiper as they'are used in both versions of the invention.

FIGURES 1-4 illustrate a portion of the machine disclosed in the pending application referred to above.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is a base 10 shown in outline only, which mounts a platform 12 on which are supported the pulling over instrumentalities 14, the staple driver 3,085,209 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 "Ice mechanism 16 and the wiper 18. The base also includes a vertically movable work supporting table 20 for yield- :ably holding the work in engagement with the operating instrumentalities.

The pulling over instrumentali-ties comprise a pair of downwardly tapering rolls 22 and 24, mounted on converging axes for rotation in opposite directions. The rolls are mounted in bearings carried by a supporting frame 26 which is tiltable relative to a horizontal plane so that the rolls may be disposed at a slight angle downwardly and in the direction 'of feed, which angle may be adjusted to increase or decrease the stress applied to the margin. The bearing carrying the shaft of the roll 24, while tiltable with the frame 26, is fixed with reference to its forward and rearward movement, whereas the shaft of the roller 22 is mounted in bearings at the forward end of a slide 28, which is connected at its rear end to pressure operated means (not shown) for moving the slide forwardly, thereby to separate the rolls to facilitate manipulating the marginal edge of the covering material there-between. The details of the slide are shown in the pending application of Jacob S. Kamborian, et al., Serial No. 529,247, filed August 18, 1955, now Patent No. 2,945,247 dated July 19, 1960, as well as the means for mounting the frame 26 so that it may be tilted. The proximity, that is, the spacing of the feed rolls is controlled by a screw 31 threaded through a boss 32 projecting laterally from the slide 28, the inner end of which bears against the frame 26. By turning the screw the spacing of the rolls may be accurately set and to facilitate such setting shims of known thickness may be employed.

The pulling over rolls are driven from a horizontal shaft 25 located in the upper part of the frame 26, which extends rearwardly and has fastened to it a drive pulley 27 which is driven from a motor (not shown).

The pulling and feeding forces applied to the margin of the material by the rolls 22 and 24 stress the material substantially perpendicular to the panel and at the same time advance the material so that successive small areas of the material are gripped, pulled heightwise and then released as new areas are taken up. As the margin is released it is folded over into engagement with the bottom side of the panel which faces upwardly by a fixed folding blade 34 (FIGS. 2 and 9), which projects forwardly from behind the roll 24 over the edge of the panel parallel to its upper surface. The folding device 34 is retractable however to facilitate introducing the marginal edge between the rolls 22 and 24 and retraction is effected in coincidence with the rolls 22 and 24, that is, as the rolls are retracted the folder is retracted and as they are brought together the folder is restored to its operative position. To this end the folder is fastened to a block 36 (FIG. 2), having a dove-tail groove 38 in it which slidably receives the dove-tail 40 of a block 42, the latter being rigidly connected to the lower part of the frame 26. A pin 44 projects laterally from the block 36 through a slot 46 in the lower end of a level 48 pivoted on the frame at 50. The upper end of the lever has a slot 52 through which extends a pin 54 projecting laterally from the slide 28. A spring 56 is connected at one end to the pin 54 and at its other end to a rear part of the frame 26 and operates yieldably to hold the slide 28 in a rearwardly displaced position and hence to hold the rolls in engagement. The slide 28 is pushed forwardly to separate the rolls in opposition to the spring 56 by the aforesaid pressure operated means. Forward movement of the slide at the same time rocks the arm 48 in a counter-clockwise direction so that its lower end moves the block 36 rearwardly and hence withdraws the folder 34 to a position back of the roll 24. Release of the slide 28 allows it to move rearwardly by reason of the spring and hence to draw the rolls into cooperative relation. The arm 48 at 3 the same time moves in a clockwise direction which advances the folder 34 into its operative position.

As will be clearly seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the marginal edge in is held upright with respect to the backing or panel p, to which it is being applied, by the roll 24 which has contact with the outer surface of the margin and the roll 22 which has contact with the inner surface thereof. The lower end of the roll 22 is rounded off, as can be seen more clearly in the aforementioned Patent No. 2,947,001, so as to provide an abutment which helps to resist upward displacement of the panel by the heightwise stress applied to the margin This heightwise movement is also opposed by the overlying portion of the folding device 34 which partially wraps the upwardly projecting margin about the peripheral surface of the roll 22 and folds the margin downwardly onto the panel.

To assist in moving the panel relative to the pulling over rolls and to take out any slack or wrinkles in the course of covering material lying beneath the panel, the work supporting table 20 carries a roller 60 arranged with a portion of its peripheral edge extending upwardly through a slot 76 in the table. The roller 69 is turned in a direction that intersects the edge of the panel so as to assist in moving the panel in the direction of feed and to move the covering material towards the edge of the panel. The table 2%) is mounted on a rectangular frame 62 (FIG. 1) which is vertically movable between laterally spaced roller bearings 64 carried by a frame 66. The frame 66 is vertically movable on the base and suitable means such as a rack and pinion, the latter being provided with a hand wheel, serves to adjust the height- Wise position of the frame 66. Vertical adjustment of the frame 66 permits lowering and raising the table with respect to the operating instrumentalities so that work pieces of different thicknesses may be covered, such for example as upholstered panels and upholstered articles. The lowering of the table also makes it possible to reach the operating instrumentalities when necessary for repair or adjustment.

The frame 62 is supported on the frame 66 on the upper end of a vertically disposed piston rod 68 which protrudes from the upper end of an air cylinder 70, the lower end of which is fixed in a bracket 72 fastened to the frame 66. When the frame 66 is elevated to bring the table 20 to the desired heightwise position with reference to the pulling over instrumentalities the table is yieldably supported in this position by the air cylinder during the pulling over operation so that it will yield to compensate for variations in the thickness of the panel and/or of the covering material.

The roll 60 is of comparatively large diameter, projects upwardly through the slot 76 in the table 20 and is preferably mounted for rotation on a shaft 61 (FIG. 1) journaled in a bracket fastened to the underside of the table. The shaft 61 is connected by way of suitable means (not shown) to the main drive shaft 25. Optionally the roll 60 may be so mounted that the shaft 61 may the shifted angularly in a horizontal plane, thereby to vary the direction of the feeding force applied to the panel. Thus, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a turntable 63 is mounted in the table 20 for rotation about a vertical axis. The turntable has the slot 76 in it and the roll 60 is supported from its bottom side. In this case the roll 60 is connected to the main shaft through a universal coupling 81, which permits the wheel to be turned without interfering with its rotation. A handle 78, which may be a forwardly projecting portion of the shaft 61, may be employed to turn the wheel. There is sufficient friction between the turntable and the table to hold it in any given position of adjustment. The adjustment of the feed wheel makes it possible to impart a strong inward feeding force to keep a heavy panel in engagement with the pulling over instrumentalities to insure snug folding and securing of the margin and to lessen the inward feeding force when light panels with thin or bevelled edges are to be covered so as not to cause damage thereto. In addition, by adjusting the feed wheel, the covering material beneath the panel may be moved towards the edge of the panel an amount sufficient to take up any slack or Wrinkles in the covering material.

Next to the folding device 34 in the direction of feed there is mounted the mechanism for applying attaching material comprising the staple mechanism 16 which has a vertically disposed nozzle 86 to which staples are supplied by the stapling mechanism which cuts the staples from continuous lengths of wire and forms them prior to driving, as disclosed in Patent No. 2,819,464. The staples when driven through the margin are crimped within the substance of the panel so that their ends do not project through the covering at the bottom side.

The construction and operation of the staple driving mechanism need not be related herein except insofar as to say that the stapler is driven from the main shaft 25 and operates to drive staples constantly and in timed relation with the feeding of the panel.

The wiper 18 is situated beyond the staple nozzle 80 in the direction of feed and is in the form of a forwardly extending and forwardly tapering roll 84, having on its surface a helically disposed rib 86 for rubbing contact with the marginal edge. The roll 84 is fast to a shaft (not shown) supported in a bearing 87. The shaft 85 has fast to it a pulley 88 over which is entrained a belt 90 driven by a pulley fast to a shaft 94, the latter being driven from the main shaft by suitable connections. The bearing 87 is fastened to one end of a lever 96 pivotally mounted on the shaft 94 and the opposite end of the lever 96 is connected to one end of a coil spring 98 which operates yieldably to press the roller 84 downwardly toward the table top 20 and hence against the upper surface of the panel as it is moved therealong. An air cylinder 1% is mounted on the frame and has protruding from it a rod 162 which is connected to the bearing 87 for elevating the bearing and holding it elevated while the machine is at rest, thereby to permit the .work to he slid beneath the roll. The Wiper roll 84 is rotated in a clockwise direction at a very much higher speed than the feed rolls, approximately 3400 r.p.m., so that the surface of the roll 84 in contact with the work at any given instant has a much higher linear speed than the surfaces of the pulling over rolls 22, 24 which have contact with the margin at any given instant. Thus the roll 84 tends to pull the marginal edge away from the pulling over rolls and relative to the panel which is being advanced at the same speed as the marginal edge. The effect of this is to stress the marginal edge in the direction of feed as well as to push it inwardly and thereby to pull that portion of the margin between the roll 84 and the pulling over rolls 22, 24 taut so that the margin will be snug at the same time the staples are driven. By locating the staple driving head 80 approximately midway between the wiper and the pulling over rolls and timing the driving of the staples so that the roll 84 has an opportunity to stress the marginal edge between staple driving operations, the margin is constantly shifted in the direction of feed so that there is no chance for it to gradually run off the edge of the panel by a gradual accumulation of slippage in the margin due to the elasticity of the covering material and the natural tendency for it to relax or pull back slightly as it is released by the feed rolls and before it can be secured. Such pull back is not appreciably noticeable in lasting the margin of small panels and shoes and does not detract from the lasting operation as performed by prior machines of this character, but for large panels where there are comparatively long runs of straight stapling, the arrangement of the fastening means between the feeding means and the wiping means is highly advantageous and desirable to secure a uniform margin.

The cross-feed roller 60 is preferably operated at a slower speed than the pulling over rollers 22, 24 and the wiping roller 84. The particular speed depends on the nature of the covering material, the size of the panel, and other variables, and is set so as to assist in feeding the panel and taking the slack and wrinkles out of the covering material without ripping said material.

The operation of the several instrumentalities is effected by a single treadle which when touched brings the pulling over rolls together and starts all of the operating instrumentalities, that is, bringing the pulling over rolls 22, 24 together, advancing the folder 34, raising the table 20, rotating the wheel 60*, driving the staples and rotating the wiper 84. A second touching of the treadle terminates operation of all of the aforesaid instrumentalities so that the machine is restored to its initial position in which the rolls are separated and the table is lowered so that the next piece of work may be placed thereon. For a detailed disclosure of the mechanism for operating the aforementioned instrumentalities, reference is made to the above cited Patent No. 2,947,001.

The sequence of operations in covering a panel is as follows. The table is initially in its lowermost position, the pulling over rolls 22, 2'4 separated, the folding blade 34 retracted, the stapler inactive, and the wiper in its inactive position. A sheet of covering material is placed on the table and a panel placed on the covering material with the margin of the covering material extending outwardly beyond the edge of the panel. A selected portion of the margin is turned upwardly and the aforementioned treadle is touched by the operator. This causes the pulling over rolls to be closed, and the folding blade to be advanced into position, the wiper to be lowered, the drive for operating the pulling over rolls, the wiper and the cross feed roll to be established, the table to be raised and the stapler to be activated. With the table raised into operative position, the turned up margin of the covering material is placed between the pulling over rolls and the work is advancedlinearly along its edge whereby the margin is progressively pulled up, folded over and stapled to the covering material. When the treadle is touched again, the table is lowered and all the parts are returned to their initial condition.

During the movement of the work through the machine, the pulling over rolls apply to the margin a pulling stress having a horizontal component directed along the edge of the panel to feed the work and a component directed heightwise of the panel to pull the margin upwardly. The cross feed roller 60 exerts a force against the bottom of the panel having a horizontal component parallel to the edge of the panel to assist in feeding the work and a component directed towards the edge of the panel to take out any slack or irregularities in the bottom of the panel, and the wiper 84, due to its helical rib 86, exerts a force inwardly of the top edge of the panel to tautly lay the margin edge of the marginal material over the top of the panel. In addition, the helical wiper assists in feeding the work forwardly.

Reference is now had to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5-8. In this arrangement, pulling over mechanism, and means for applying attaching material and control means therefor similar to that shown in Patent No. 2,843,863 is utilized. Pulling over rolls 22, 24, wiper 84 and folding blade 34 similar to the ones described above are utilized.

Instead of stapling the margin to the panel, the margin is attached by means of adhesive supplied to and discharged trom an end of the nozzle 104, an end of which is located at the delivery side of the pulling over rolls in a position to discharge the adhesive within the angle between the stressed marginal material and the upper surface of the panel just before the marginal material is folded over by folding blade 34 and laid down by wiper 84. The adhesive nozzle 104 may be directly connected to an adhesive container 106 within which the adhesive is under air pressure and between which and the nozzle there is a valve 108 for controlling flow of the adhesive from the container to the nozzle. Control means 110 controlled by a course of marginal material is provided for operating a solenoid 112 to cause the adhesive to be dispensed during the presence of the marginal material and to cease being dispensed during the absence of the marginal material.

A turntable 114, similar to turntable 63, is provided in table 20. Mounted in the turntable in a manner similar to the mounting disclosed in FIG. 4 is roller 60a. A reference line 113 is provided on table 20 and calibration lines 115 are provided on the turntable so that the angularity of the turntable may be readily determined. An edge guide 116 for guiding the edge of the panel towards the bite between the pulling over rolls is mounted on the turntable. The edge guide has an edge 118 which is engaged by the panel edge and by the covering material. Edge 118 merges into a surface 120 which slopes upwardly in the direction of the pulling over rolls to cause the edge of the panel to rise slightly above the table at the time the marginal edge of the covering sheet is gripped by the pulling over rolls.

The edge guide is rigidly connected to a shaft 122 and the shaft 122 is rigidly connected to 3, lug 125. A torsion spring 126 is coiled about the shaft 122 between a plate 128 which forms part of the turntable and the lug 125, one end of the spring being embedded in plate 128 and the other end being embedded in lug 125. The lug engages a pin 131) depending from a clamping plate 132. A bolt holding plate 134 is interposed between the turntable 114 and the clamping plate 132 in a clearance 133 provided in plate 128. The plate 134 has a hole extending therethrough and a sleeve 124 is mounted in the hole and afiixed to the plate. The shaft 122 is rotatable within the sleeve. A clearance opening 136, larger in diameter than bolt 122 and sleeve 124, is provided in turntable 114, said clearance opening surrounding the bolt and sleeve. Headed screws 138, rotatable in openings in turntable 1 14 are threaded into clamping plate 132 and when tightened clamp bolt holding plate 134 between clamping plate 132 and turntable 114. A clearance opening 135 in bolt holding plate 134 surrounds screws 1138.

The spring 126 normally urges the edge guide 116 clockwise (FIG. 6) until the lug 125 engages the pin 130. This causes the edge guide 116 to assume a position where the surface 118 is directed towards the bite between the rolls 22 and 24 (see FIG. 6). Ideally, the surface 118 should coincide with the line of tangency of the rolls 22 and 24, but some divergence from this line may be had without affecting the operativeness of the edge guide. Guide 116 may be moved counterclockwise (FIG. 6) about the axis of bolt 122 against the force exerted by spring 126. This is particularly useful when feeding the corner of a panel into the pulling over rolls as the corner may impinge against the edge guide and swing it. After the corner has cleared the edge guide and a new straight run of the panel edge is presented to the pulling over rolls, the edge guide will revert back to its normal position.

Edge 118 in addition to guiding the edge of the panel also tends to guide the turned up margin m in a vertical position as it is pulled heightwise by the pulling over rolls 22, 24. It is desirable that the edge guide 116 be located close to the pulling over rolls 22, 24, so that there will not be a long unsupported length of margin between the edge guide and the rolls. When working on some materials, it has been found advantageous to locate shaft 122 beneath roll 24 so as to provide a minimum distance for the margin to travel between edge 11 8 and the bite between rolls 22, 24.

When the turntable is adjusted to change the angle of the feed roller 60a, it becomes desirable to adjust the position of the edge guide so that surf-ace 116 will continue to be directed towards the bite between rolls 22, 24.

r This may conveniently be done by rotating screws 1138 7 to loosen clamping plate 132. The guide 116 may then be grasped and members 116, 122, 1124, 1'25 and 134 moved in unison until the guide is in the desired position. Clearance openings 1.33, 135 and 135 permit this movement to take place. Screws 138 are then tightened to fix bolt holding plate 134 in the new position.

In using the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 8, the margin of the covering material is placed between rolls 22, 24 and members 22, 24, 60a and 84 are caused to rotate. Adhesive is discharged from nozzle 104 into the angle between the upwardly pulled margin and the upper surface of the panel. The margin is folded downwardly against the top surface of the panel by folding blade 34 and is then laid securely against the panel by wiper 84 which also spreads the adhesive under the margin and applies pressure to the margin to cause the margin to become adhesively bonded to the panel. The forces exerted on the work by the pulling over rolls 22, 24, feed roll 60a and wiper 84 are substantially identical to the forces described above in connection with the machine disclosed in FlGURES 1 through 4.

It is to be understood that the present disclosure is for purposes of illustration only and this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The method of making a covered panel comprising workpieces that include a relatively rigid backing panel and a flexible covering sheet by applying the covering sheet to the panel, and wherein the covering sheet is located upon a support with the panel positioned upon the sheet leaving a margin extending outwardly beyond the edge of the panel, said method comprising the steps of: applying to the margin that extends beyond a selected portion of the panel edge a pulling stress having a component directed along said edge portion and a component directed heightwise of the panel so as to feed the covering sheet and panel along the support and concurrently pull the margin of the covering sheet heightwise of the panel; concomitantly applying a feeding force against the bottom of the covering sheet and panel having a component directed towards said edge portion and a conponent parallel to the first mentioned component of the pulling stress; concomitantly inwiping the heightwise pulled margin by bending said margin over the top of said edge portion and then exerting a force having a component of motion directed inwardly of said edge portion across the top of the panel; and progressively and continuously applying the pulling stress, the feeding force and the inwiping force from one point to another along the edge of the panel.

2. The method of making a covered panel comprising workpieces that include a relatively rigid backing panel and a fiexible covering sheet by applying the covering sheet to the panel, and wherein the covering sheet is located upon a support with the panel positioned upon the sheet leaving a margin extending outwardly beyond the edge of the panel, said method comprising the steps of: applying to the margin that extends beyond a selected portion of the panel edge a pulling stress having a component directed along said edge portion and a component directed heightwise of the panel so as to feed the covering sheet and panel along the support and concurrently pull the margin of the covering sheet heightwise of the panel; concomitantly applying a feeding force against the bottom of the covering sheet and panel having a component directed towards said edge portion and a component parallel to the first mentioned component of the pulling stress; concomitantly inwiping the heightwise pulled margin by bending said margin over the top of said edge portion and then exerting a force having a component of motion directed inwardly of said edge portion across the top of the panel; concomitantly applying attaching material to at least one of said workpieces for securing the inwiped margin to the panel; and progressively and continuously applying the pulling stress, the feeding force, and the inwiping force, and the attaching material from one point to another along the edge of the panel.

3. The method of making a covered panel comprising workpieces that include a relatively rigid backing panel and a flexible covering sheet by applying the covering sheet to the panel, and wherein the covering sheet is located up on a support with the panel positioned upon the sheet leaving a margin extending outwardly beyond the edge of the panel, said method comprising the steps of: applying to the margin that extends beyond a selected portion of the panel edge a pulling stress having a component directed along said edge portion and a component directed heightwise of the panel so as to feed the covering sheet and panel along the support and concurrently pull the margin of the covering sheet heightwise of the panel; concomitantly applying a feeding force against the bottom of the covering sheet and panel having a component directed towards said edge portion and a component parallel to the first mentioned component of the pulling stress; concomitantly inwiping the heightwise pulled margin by bending said margin over the top of said edge portion and then exerting a force having a component of motion directed inwardly of said edge portion across the top of said panel; concomitantly applying attaching elements to the inwiped margin and panel for securing the inwiped margin to the panel; and progressively and continuously applying the pulling stress, the feeding force, and the inwiping force, and the attaching elements from one point to another along the edge of the panel.

4. The method of making a covered panel comprising workpieces that include a relatively rigid backing panel and a flexible covering sheet by applying the covering sheet to the panel, and wherein the covering sheet is located upon a support with the panel positioned upon the sheet leaving a margin extending outwardly beyond the edge of the panel, said method comprising the steps of: applying to the margin that extends beyond a selected portion of the panel edge a pulling stress having a component directed along said edge portion and a component directed heightwise of the panel so as to feed the covering sheet and panel along the support and concurrently pull the margin of the sheet heightwise of the panel; COIlCOlTlltantly applying a feeding force against the bottom of the covering sheet and panel having a component directed towards said edge portion and a component parallel to the first mentioned component of the pulling stress; concomitantly inwiping the heightwise pulled margin by exerting a force having a component of motion directed inwardly of said edge portion across the top of the panel; and progressively and continuously applying the pulling stress, the feeding force and the inwiping force from one point to another along the edge of the panel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,344,063 Seely June 22, 1920 1,988,507 Paxton Jan. 22, 1935 2,446,043 Christiansen July 27, 1948 2,570,086 Adams Oct. 2, 1951 2,576,121 Kamborian Nov. 27, 1951 2,663,034 Schwabe Dec. 22, 1953 2,667,908 Kamborian Feb. 2, 1954 2,947,001 Kamborian Aug. 2, 1960 

1. THE METHOD OF MAKING A COVERED PANEL COMPRISING WORKPIECES THAT INCLUDE A RELATIVELY RIGID BACKING PANEL AND A FLEXIBLE COVERING SHEET BY APPLYING THE COVERING SHEET TO THE PANEL, AND WHEREIN THE COVERING SHEET IS LOCATED UPON A SUPPORT WITH THE PANEL POSITIONED UPON THE SHEET LEAVING A MARGIN EXTENDING OUTWARDLY BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE PANEL, SAID METHOD COMPRISING THE STEPS OF: APPLYING TO THE MARGIN THAT EXTENDS BEYOND A SELECTED PORTION OF THE PANEL EDGE A PULLING STRESS HAVING A COMPONENT DIRECTED ALONG SAID EDGE PORTION AND A COMPONENT DIRECTED HEIGHTWISE OF THE PANEL SO AS TO FEED THE COVERING SHEET AND PANEL ALONG THE SUPPORT AND CONCURRENTLY PULL THE MARGIN OF THE COVERING SHEET HEIGHTWISE OF THE PANEL; CONCOMITANTLY APPLYING A FEEDING FORCE AGAINST THE BOTTOM OF THE COVERING SHEET AND PANEL HAVING A COMPONENT DIRECTED TOWARDS SAID EDGE PORTION AND A COMPONENT PARALLEL TO THE FIRST MENTIONED COMPONENT OF THE PULLING STRESS; CONCOMITANTLY INWIPING THE HEIGHTWISE PULLED MARGIN BY BENDING SAID MARGIN OVER THE TOP OF SAID EDGE PORTION AND THEN EXERTING A FORCE HAVING A COMPONENT OF MOTION DIRECTED INWARDLY OF SAID EDGE PORTION ACROSS THE TOP OF THE PANEL; AND PROGRESSIVELY AND CONTINUOUSLY APPLYING THE PULLING STRESS, THE FEEDING FORCE AND THE INWIPING FORCE FROM ONE POINT TO ANOTHER ALONG THE EDGE OF THE PANEL. 